The Ontario government has announced the start of construction on GO Transit’s Bowmanville Extension.

The project will extend the Lakeshore East GO line 18.7 kilometres into Durham Region, accommodating 17,000 daily trips and 4.9 million boardings annually by 2041.

Once complete, the extension will deliver two-way, all-day service, putting 10,400 jobs within walking distance of transit.

The first phase of construction includes rebuilding and modifying bridges along the corridor, relocating utilities and making improvements at the Durham College Oshawa GO Station and the adjacent VIA Rail building.

Early works began in spring 2025 and included tree clearing, geotechnical investigations along the corridor and the installation of a new watermain in Oshawa.

Bowmanville Construction Partners – a partnership between Ledcor CMI Ltd. and Dragados Canada Inc. – was hired as the construction manager in 2023. The project is scheduled to take another 15 years to complete.

“With this extension, thousands of people in Durham Region will have better access to jobs, healthcare and education,” said Canadian Urban Transit Association CEO Marco D’Angelo. “It’s an important step in the process of connecting the GTHA together and growing the economy of Ontario.”

The Bowmanville Extension will run from Durham College Oshawa GO Station to Bowmanville GO Station, with new stations planned at Thornton’s Corners East, Ritson Road, Courtice and Bowmanville.